Lunar Phases II Ch 4 Preview

As promised, the delayed chapter’s preview

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Lunar Phases II: Manifesto

Chapter IV Preview

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"Annabeth, you didn't say anything about working with The Hunters." Thalia grumbled, holding a long glare with the who-knows-how-old pubescent girl that glared back at her. They were gathered up in a nondescript apartment just a block south of where the Harpies were last reported to be seen for some last minute planning and to rendezvous with their allies. Thalia's favorite group of girls, including one sourpuss in particular that was overdue for some rough, unsolicited unprofessional rhinoplasty courtesy of a certain demigoddess' fist.

Likewise, Naomi's lip curled in a small sneer, which made her beak-like nose scrunch a bit and become even more of an enticing target.

"Please, you wouldn't even know of this outpost were it not for our Lady's benevolence toward the Mountain's bastards."

"What does that make you, huh? A nymph on the wrong side of a sucking?" One of the older Cabin Five members – Marcus, Thalia thinks his name is – asked as he stepped up to back her. To be fair, he struck an imposing figure, six-something feet tall and built like a brick house, but that's all it was. He had only been in camp for a month, which spoke of how valued he was by the God of War, to either have been overlooked for so long or ignored outright said a lot. Still, in that month, Clarisse came to value him for his prowess and combat capability. His temper needed management, but thankfully, Thalia wasn't babysitting today. Annabeth was.

"You watch your tongue, Boy, before I carve it from your mouth and–!"

"Okay, okay! We've all got some issues with each other. Focus on the task at hand, Naomi," Bianca, still the shrimp she was when she and Thalia first met, but her eyes had a harder steel in them as she cowed the taller girl before she returned to discussing their assault route with Annabeth. Wow, it was almost as if being in charge of the immortal 'Bratz Pack' had made her grow up a bit. Well, more than she already had anyway; the girl had kept an eye on her little brother during their stay at the Lotus Hotel and for some time after.

On an unrelated note, according to Kelp Head via Annabeth, Nico still hadn't turned back up since he almost got them all trapped in the Labyrinth because he was tricked by some ghost or something. Shame, too, because she wanted to talk to him about the loss of his sibling. Granted, her little brother was dead as opposed to Nico's now immortal older sister, but their situations were similar enough that maybe they could use it as an olive branch to become a little less hostile toward each other. At least, that's what Whiskers suggested after their last run in with Bianca and Naomi – who got away with her nose mercifully unblemished only due to injuries on both the daughter of Zeus and her boyfriend's end – during their day of recovery after their first run in with Minato.

The memories of that missed opportunity brought her ever racing mind back to the topic at hand, Bianca and her remarkable personality shift from nervous wallflower to a confident leader of a goddess' handmaidens. Thalia didn't think that sort of gig would be 'cakewalk', what with being expected to manage upwards of fifty-something teenage girls constantly moving, ignoring their trauma – yeah, psych student Thalia was not, but she'd still seen the same sort of things the hunters were known to suffer from in the streets and she had awful nightmares from time to time – and venting their issues on every human with a Y-chromosome? Seriously, Thalia was so glad she didn't have to take that route to escape the 'coveted' Child of Prophecy title, and she would have considered taking it if Whiskers hadn't cashed in that non-favor.

Not to mention, she couldn't see herself taking Bianca seriously as Artemis' voice in her stead. Maybe if their roles got swapped, it would be different, but Thalia didn't want to wrest the younger girl's title just because the Daughter of Hades' innate leadership ability wasn't as developed as Thalia's. The Daughter of Zeus had the 'handicap' of leading a pair of runaways across the East Coast with Bianca's patron goddess' son helping toward the home stretch. Granted, she could've done without her yet-to-be boyfriend's abrupt disappearance before their first interaction with The Hunt, but–

"Thalia!"

"What, Annie?" Thalia snapped her eyes to meet Annabeth's stark gaze. There was a hint of concern behind the stern annoyance there, but the rest of Annabeth's posture said more than words alone could. It was probably from the use of her nickname.

"Don't call me that in the field." Yeah, definitely the nickname. Annabeth huffed and beckoned her toward the map that was spread across a rotting table. "We want a third set of eyes on this."

"I'm flattered." Thalia rolled those eyes with a huff and sent a parting glare Naomi's way before she went over to get the details.

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Not all of what I got, but a good chunk to sate some.